WATCH | NORAD Santa tracker: Follow Santa Claus on Christmas Eve

Santa Claus is coming to town. Just like the past 65 years, the North American Aerospace Defense Command is tracking Santa as he makes his way around the world.

At 4:00 a.m. ET on Christmas Eve, NORAD launched its online Santa radar so children can track Santa as he goes from continent to continent.

Nation World
NORAD Tracker: How to track Santa Claus this Christmas
COVID-19 isn't stopping the mission of watching Santa make his rounds, but there will be one big difference this year.
Author: TEGNA, LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press
Published: 6:06 PM EST November 30, 2020
Updated: 8:02 AM EST December 24, 2020
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WASHINGTON — Santa Claus is coming to town. Just like the past 65 years, the North American Aerospace Defense Command is tracking Santa as he makes his way around the world.

At 4:00 a.m. ET on Christmas Eve, NORAD launched its online Santa radar so children can track Santa as he goes from continent to continent.

But there will be some changes due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic: Not every child will be able to get through to a volunteer at NORAD’s call center to check on Santa’s whereabouts, as they have in years before.

Normally, 150-160 volunteers crowd into a conference room at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, taking two-hour shifts to answer the phones as eager children call to see if Santa and his sleigh have reached their rooftops. All together, 1,500 people over 20 hours have participated in the call center in the past, fielding more than 130,000 phone calls, beginning at 6 a.m. ET on Christmas Eve.

This year, due to safety restrictions forced by the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of volunteers has been drastically cut to what NORAD expects will be fewer than 10 people per shift.

“We understand this is a time-honored tradition, and we know undoubtedly there is going to be some disappointment,” said NORAD spokesman Preston Schlachter. “But we’re trying to keep it safe for everyone involved.”

So, some callers may be able to once again get through to a member of the military or other volunteer when they dial the NORAD Tracks Santa toll-free number, 1-877-Hi-NORAD. But others will get a recorded update on Santa’s current location.

FULL STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/santa-tracker-launches-dec-1/507-d1ff2aa3-b284-4d62-9056-0dc8553096ca

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